Woodbridge

Welcoming Chernobyl children

7 August, 2017

Children affected by the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster were treated to free eye examinations and glasses at Specsavers Woodbridge.

Three years running

Eighteen children, whose home town in Belarus remains contaminated with radiation 30 years after the nuclear meltdown, visited Specsavers Woodbridge as part of a project with charity Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline. It is the third year in a row the opticians has welcomed children affected by the disaster into the store.

After conducting the eye tests, almost half of the children were prescribed new glasses, which were provided to them completely free of charge by the store. They were able to choose from a wide selection of fun frames, ranging from Disney to Marvel.

Equal opportunities

Two of the store’s staff, store manager Hannah Bennett-Lightfoot and store director Vicki Robbins guided the children on the day.

Vicki says: ‘We are delighted to have the opportunity to help give the children access to free eyecare and glasses here at Woodbridge Specsavers. The radiation the children were exposed to in Ukraine increases the chances of developing conditions such as cataracts, which would go undetected without an eye examination.

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline helps raise funds to bring children from Chernobyl to the UK each year for four weeks of fresh air, uncontaminated food, fun, love and attention as well as dental and eye check-ups. These visits can add up to two years to these children’s life expectancy.

The visit took place as part of the children’s trip to the mid Suffolk area and all treatment by Specsavers will be completely free of charge.